Pendulum lancemanship game

ABSTRACT

A PENDULUM LANCEMANSHIP GAME INCLUDING AN INTERNAL ELONGATED SLOT FOR THE PENDULUM EXTENDING LINEARLY UPWARDLY FROM THE PENDULUM LOWER FREE END AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PLURALITY OF ANNULAR TARGET MEMBERS RELEASABLE DOWNWARDLY CONSECUTIVELY FROM THE PENDULUM LOWER FREE END THROUGH CONVERGENT RESILIENTLY-DEFLECTABLE STRAPS WHICH ALSO SUPPORT THE SEVERAL TARGETS. THE PENDULUM IS SUSPENDED FROM AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT. A HOOK IS PROVIDED ON THE PENDULUM AND A RELEASABLE CATCH IS PROVIDED ON THE PENDULUM SUPPORT TO ENGAGE THE HOOK AND HOLD THE PENDULUM FREE END IN AN OFFSET POSITION. A REMOVABLE APERTURED SHIELD IS ALSO PROVIDED TO MAKE THE LANCING TACK MORE DIFFICULT.

p 20, 1971 D. K. WELBOURN ETAL 3,606,324

IENDULUM LANCEMANSHII GAME Filed April 23, 1969 mm & mm mm v m m om W\ mus K. wasoumv a NORMA J. MELBOUR/V 'NVENTOR (R M n Y B United States Patent Office 3,606,324 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,606,324 PENDULUM LANCEMANSHIP GAME Dale K. Welbourn and Norma J. Welbourn, both of Neola, Iowa 51559 Filed Apr. 23, 1969, Ser. No. 818,519 Int. Cl. A63f 9/00 US. Cl. 2731R 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pendulum lancemanship game including an internal elongated slot for the pendulum extending linearly upwardly from the pendulum lower free end and adapted to receive a plurality of annular target members releasable downwardly consecutively from the pendulum lower free end through convergent resiliently-defiectable straps which also support the several targets. The pendulum is suspended from an upright support. A hook is provided on the pendulum and a releasable catch is provided on the pendulum support to engage the hook and hold the pendulum free end in an offset position. A removable apertured shield is also provided to make the lancing task more difiicult.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a portable training device and competitive game that is amusing and challenging to human subjects of whatever degree of mental sophistication and physical dexterity.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a portable lancemanship game that provides amusement, challenge, and dexterity improvement for a wide range of human subjects ranging from immature and uncoordinated children to dextrous intelligent adults, and that even offers competitive challenge between opposed players of widely disparate dexterities.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a readily modifiable amusement and training device, that is suitable for use by a wide range of human subjects and that can be enjoyed either by a solitary player, or by a pair of competitive players.

It is a further object to provide a safe portable lancemanship game that can be enjoyed indoors, outdoors, or even in roomy motor vehicles during extended motor trips.

It is another object to provide an economic structure that is adapted for manufacture in separable parts for ease in shipment, storage, and commercial display.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, which will become more apparent as this description proceeds, the portable lancemanship game of the present invention generally comprises: an elongate base member adapted to stably rest upon a substantially horizontal substrate; an upright lofty column extending up wardly from the base member; an elongate cross-bar extending longitudinally rigidly forwardly of the column; a lofty pendulum extending pivotably downwardly from the cross-bar and having a lower free end disposed above the base member whereby said pendulum lower free end is adapted to oscillate longitudinally, said pendulum carrying one or more transversely open targets adapted to be lanced therethrough by one or more transversely positioned lance wielding players.

In the drawing, wherein like characters refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a representative form of the lancemanship game of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along line Z-Z of FIG. 1.

The portable lancemanship game A of the present invention comprises an elongate base member 10 having a finite longitudinal length defined between a transverse forward end 13 and a transverse rearward end 14, further having an elongate horizontal upper surface 11, and also having an elongate horizontal lower surface 12 whereby the base member 10 is adapted to stably rest upon a substantially horizontal underlying substrate. Herein, base member 10 is of rectangular shape in vertical crosssection.

An upright column 20 is rigidly attached to base member 10 and extends loftily upwardly from base member upper surface 11 including a column horizontal upper end 21. The upper portion of column 20 is preferably provided with a central upright slot 22. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, column 20 is of rectangular shape in horizontal cross-section.

Horizontal elongate cross-bar 30 is attached to column 20 and extends longitudinally rigidly from the upper portion of column 20, herein the lower elongate surface 32 of cross-bar 30 abutting column upper end 21. Herein, cross-bar 30 is of rectangular shape in vertical crosssection, and there is a longitudinal central slot 34 extending rearwardly ofcross-bar forward end 33, said slot 34 having a rearward upright terminus at 35, whereby the forward portion of cross-bar 30 is bifurcate including parallel longitudinally-extending arms 36 and 37. Cross-bar 30 has a transverse recess 38 of semi-circular cross sectional shape extending downwardly of cross-bar upper elongate surface 31 and disposed within arms 36 and 37. The cross-bar forward end 33 is disposed longitudinally between the base member forward end :13 and column 20,,nearer to 13 than to 20.

There is a novel lofty pendulum 40' extending downwardly from cross-bar 30, said pendulum 40 being pivotably attached to cross-bar 30 at a transverse axis B with a transverse pivot-means, whereby said pendulum lower portion, e.g. 42, is adapted to oscillate forwardly and rearwardly of transverse axis B. The pendulum lower free end 42, and also the optional target releasing means 63-64 are vertical-1y disposed between transverse axis B and base member upper surface 11, nearer to 11 than to B. Pendulum 40 has a lengthwise central axis D, said axis D vertically passing through transverse axis B when pendulum 40 is at rest.

Novel pendulum 40 will now be described in detail, and for the purposes of such detailed description, pendulum 40 will be taken at rest with its lengthwise axis D vertically passing through transverse axis B within crossbar slotted portion 34. Pendulum 40 has an overall vertical height disposed between upper end 41 and lower end 42. The lower lofty region of pendulum 40 (commencing upwardly from lower end 42 and extending herein to elevational level 45) has an appreciable transverse thickness as defined herein by parallel upright panels 46 and 47 and also has an appreciable lateral dimension as defined herein by forward and rearward lofty vertical pendulum edges 43 and 44, respectively. Specifically, pendulum 40 is desirably provided of said parallel thin upright panels 46 and 47 transversely spaced apart with laterally-thin upright end-panels at edges 43 and 44, respectively, whereby a lofty slot or gap 48 exists between panels 46 and 47, and whereby the pendulum 40 in horizontal cross-section substantially between elevation 42 and 45 is rectangularly annular. The lower lateral extremity of panels 46 and 47 is preferably semi-circularly concave whereby the pendulum lower free end 42 is transversely linearly generated to the said semi-circular concave configuration. The pendulum upper portion at upper end 41 comprises a vertical bar '49 disposed between and attached to panels 46 and 47 substantially above elevational level 45, said bar 49 extend- 3 ing within cross-bar slot 34 at transverse axis B. A cylindrical rod '39 is disposed along transverse axis B and journalled by cross-bar arms 36 and 37 as at recesses 38; rod 39 slidably passing through a transverse aperture of verti: cal bar 49 and provides a convenient transverse pivot means to allow pendulum 40 to oscillate at axis B.

There is an upright annular removable-target e.g. 50, disposed at pendulum lower end 42, said annular removable-target being removably secured to pendulum 40 by suitable target releasing means e.g. opposed springy straps 63 and 64. In the preferred situation, a substantial portion of the upright transverse opening e.g. 51, of the annular removable-target e.g. 50, is below pendulum lower end 42 to be at least visibly exposed to a player positioned along one or both transverse sides of lancemanship game A. Thus, one or both such transversely positioned players, each wielding a transversely thrustable lance L (one such lance being depicted in FIG. 2), can attempt to thrust lance L through the transverse central opening of the removabletarget, while substantially simultaneously pushing lance L downwardly, to downwardly remove said removable-target from pendulum 40 as depicted in phantom line in FIG. 2. The said upright annular removable-target so partially disposed immediately below pendulum lower end 42 preferably takes the form of an upright circular ring annulus 50 having transverse circular central opening 51. The preferred target releasing means takes the form of a pair of springy metallic arcuate straps 63 and '64 including first strap 63 attached to pendulum upright forward edge 43 and extending arcuately downwardly and rearwardly from the lower end of 43 at 42 toward pendulum axis D, and further including second strap 64 attached to pendulum upright rearward edge 44- and extending arcuately downwardly and forwardly from the lower end of 44 at 42 toward pendulum axis D and below the free end of first strap 63. Thus, the opposed springy straps target releasing means 63- 64 are not only adapted to resiliently spring apart (as indicated in phantom line in FIG. 1) to downwardly release the lanceably pushed removabletarget from pendulum 40, but are also adapted to hold the removable-target in target position immediately below pendulum lower end 42.

A plurality of vertically stacked upright annular rings removable-targets e.g., 50, 60, 70, 80, might be vertically stacked within pendulum upright spatial gap or slot 48, said several upright rings resting upon one another whereby the total weight of said several rings ultimately bears upon target releasing means 63 64. By definition, the lowermost of said several vertically stacked rings which extends below pendulum lower end 42 is the removabletarget. For such vertically stacked consecutive rings, the amount of downward force required to be exerted on the lowermost annulus removable-target through downwardlypushed lance L for actuating the target releasing means to downwardly release said lowermost removable-target, must exceed the aggregate weight of said vertically stacked rings. In other words, the target releasing means 63-64 must be sufficiently structurally normally rigid to maintain the arcuate configuration shown in solid line in FIG. 1 under the weight of the several rings 50, 60, 70, and 80. As the lowermost ring removable-target e.g. 50, is lanced transversely and downwardly, resiliently deflectable straps 63 and 64 briefly assume the vertical positions shown in phantom line in FIG. 1 to downwardly release the said removable-target, straps 63 and 64 immediately resiliently resuming their normal arcuate configurations to hold the next higher ring 60 as the new removable-target; thus, as the lancemanship game progresses, the highest ring e.g. 80, will ultimately become the removable-target. In order to tax the skill of the playersthe several rings might be of differing annular diameters or of differing opening diameters, or both, so as to offer successive removable-targets of varying lancing difficulty. In this vane, the more diificult to negotiate annular removable-target e.g. 60 ad 70, might be imprinted with higher scoring values than carried by the more easily lanceable targets e.g. 50 and =80. The several upright rings e.g. 50, 60, 70, are loaded into pendulum vertical gap 80 through a pendulum transverse circular opening 55 in one or both pendulum panels 46 and 47. When the pendulum transverse opening 55 extends through both panels 46 and 47 as shown in the drawing, said opening 55 provides a transversely lanceable affixed-target on pendulum 40. A plurality of such transversely-lanceable affixed-targets might be spaced at intervals along the upright height of pendulum 40, such pendulum transverse openings afiixedtargets compatibly existing with upright rings 50, 60, 70, 80, provided the diameter of such affixed-targets does not substantially exceed that for the rings.

A desirable optional feature for lancemanship game A includes means to temporarily maintain the pendulum lower free end 42 longitudinally olfset of the pendulum pivotal axis B; such means herein comprises a hook 25 extending rigidly rearwardly of pendulum 40 together with a hooked-lever 26 disposed within column slot 22, said hooked-lever 26 being pivotably attached to column 20 with transverse pivot pin 27. When hook 25 is disposed nearer to pendulum lower end 42 than to pendulum pivot 39, and when the hooked-lever pivot pin 27 is disposed nearer to column upper end 21 than to base member 10, pendulum lower free end 42 can be temporarily maintained at a maximum height above base member upper surface 11; upon release of temporarily offset pendulum 40 through hooked-lever 26 as indicated in phantom line in FIG. 1 heretofore held stationary, pendulum 40 begins to oscillate vigorously. Thus, the said means 2526 provides a starting signal for a two-players "variety of the lancemanshi game whereupon both transversely stationed opposed lance-weilding players can compete for successive annular ring removable-targets or for the aifixed-targets, or both, on oscillating pendulum 40.

For the more skilled players, a transversely apertured upright shield including transverse aperture 91 might be removably attached to base member 10-, as by means of shield dowels '92 fitting into base member mounting holes 15. When the removable upright apertured shield 90 is employed, the player can negotiate the targets on pendulum 40 only when said pendulum targets are transversely aligned with shield longitudinal aperture 91, thus making the lancemanship game more complex and interesting to the more skillful player. In the situation wherein one of two players is definitely more skillful than the other, a single apertured shield 90 might be employed only for the more skillful contestant, as indicated in the drawing.

Dull-ended lances L are preferred for reasons of safety when small children are involved. Exceedingly lengthy lances might be employed if the game A is used out-ofdoors, shorter lances being employed indoors or in traveling motor vehicles. The lance-wielding players might even be riding bicycles past the stationary game A.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the lancemanship game will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A pendulum lancemanship game comprising:

(A) an elongate base member having a finite length defined between a forward end and a transverse rearward end, said base member having an elongate upper surface and an elongate generally horizontal lower surface whereby said base member is adapted to stably rest upon a selected horizontal underlying substrate;

(B) an upright lofty column extending loftily rigidly upwardly from the rearward portion of the base member;

(C) an elongate cross-bar extending longitudinally rigidly forwardly from the upper portion of the lofty upright column whereby said cross-bar is disposed loftily above the base member;

(D) a lofty pendulum having a lower free end disposed above the base member upper surface, said pendulum being pivotably attached to the cross-bar forward portion and extending downwardly therefrom whereby said pendulum lower free end is adapted to oscillate forwardly and rearwardly of the said pivotal connection, said pendulum including at least one transverse opening therethrough to provide a transversely lanceable target on said pendulum; and

(E) releasable means extending between the column and pendulum to temporarily maintain the pendulum lower free end stationarily offset of the pendulum pivotal connection with the cross-bar.

2. The lancemanship game of claim 1 wherein the forward portion of the cross-bar is bifurcate including a pair of forwardly extending parallel arms or tongues; wherein the upper portion of the pendulum is disposed between the cross-bar arms or tongues and pivotably attached thereto with a transverse pivot pin; and wherein the releasable offset means includes a rigid hook on the pen- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 189,321 4/1877 Norcross 273105.2 626,500 6/1899 McCullough 273105.2X 2,917,310 12/1959 Durrell 27385(G) 3,112,929 12/1963 Gisser 2731(E) 3,222,066 12/1965 Durrell 273-1 3,387,846 6/1968 Glass et a1. 273-1X 3,419,272 12/1968 Miller et a1. 273-1052 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 27385R, 105.2 

